Abbazia di Santa Giustina

Vast Renaissance church and Benedictine abbey in Padua – eight domes, relics of Saint Justina, overlooking the Prato della Valle.

The Basilica of Santa Giustina in Padua is one of the largest churches in the world and the most important Renaissance building in the Veneto. The Benedictine abbey dates to the 10th century; the current church with its eight monumental domes was begun in 1530 and only completed in the 17th century. The facade remains bare and unplastered – a deliberate sign of Benedictine modesty, setting it apart from the ornate Basilica of Saint Anthony nearby. Inside are significant Venetian paintings and the relics of Saint Justina and the Evangelist Luke. The abbey sits directly on the Prato della Valle, one of Europe's largest city squares.